Democratic National Committee Adopts Resolution Supporting the Repeal of the 2001 AUMF

On Saturday, March 10, 2018, the Democratic National Committee adopted a resolution supporting bipartisan efforts to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and calling on Congress to debate and vote on war.

The resolution was submitted by FCNL’s Legislative Director for Human
Rights and Civil Liberties Yasmine Taeb, Congressman Keith Ellison (MN),
Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), and
several other members of the DNC for consideration during its March 2018
meeting. Adopting this resolution signifies that the Democratic Party will encourage Democratic Members in Congress to reassert their constitutional authority by supporting efforts to repeal the 2001 AUMF and to hold a debate and vote on war.

Yasmine Taeb made the following statement:

“We are thrilled to see that the Democratic National Committee is taking
this important step in calling on Congress to exercise its
constitutionally-designated authority to determine when and where our
country goes to war. Passed only three days after the attacks of 9/11,
the 2001 AUMF has given three administrations expansive and endless
war-making powers without consulting Congress. This is an abdication of
Congress’ constitutional duties. We are heartened that the
Democratic Party recognizes the dangers of using an outdated war
authority, as it has led to endless war and ever-increasing U.S.
military action abroad.

"Moreover, we strongly support the call for bipartisan action on this
issue. Democrats and Republicans must reach across the aisle and work
together to create lasting change and reclaim Congress’s war authority.
It is past time for Congress to have a debate and vote on war. We urge the Republican National Committee to adopt a similar
proposal calling on Congress to repeal the 2001 AUMF and
to debate and vote on war.”

The resolution is included below:

Submitted by:

Yasmine Taeb, Virginia

Congressman Keith Ellison, DNC Deputy Chair/Minnesota

Congresswoman Grace Meng, DNC Vice-Chair/New York

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, California

James Zogby, At-Large/Washington, D.C.

Larry Cohen, At-Large/Washington, D.C.

Michael Kapp, California

Chris Reeves, Kansas

Travis Nelson, Oregon

Andrew Werthmann, Wisconsin

Khary Penebaker, Wisconsin

John Eastwood, Democrats Abroad

Bart Dame, Hawaii

Jeri Shepherd, Colorado

Jessica Sell Chambers, Wyoming

Valdez Bravo, Oregon

Winston Apple, Missouri

Tim Vandeveer, Chair, Hawaii

Atima Omara, Virginia

Terje Anderson, Chair, Vermont

Tanya Shively, Oregon

John Verdejo, North Carolina

Carrie Pugh, At-Large/District of Columbia

Resolution Calling Upon the Democratic Members of the 115th Congress to Reassert their Constitutional Authority to Repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and to Debate and Vote on a new AUMF

WHEREAS, the Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war; and

WHEREAS, the framers of the Constitution understood that the monumental decision to go to war, which can result in massive death and the destruction of civilized society, must be made by the representatives of the people and not by a single person; and

WHEREAS, the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) was passed three days after the attacks of September 11, 2001 in order to target those who committed or assisted with the attacks; and

WHEREAS, the 2001 AUMF is an overly broad piece of legislation that has been used as an open-ended authorization for the use of military force; and

WHEREAS, according to a 2018 Congressional Research Service report, the 2001 AUMF has been used to conduct at least 41 military actions in 18 different countries; and

WHEREAS, Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s amendment to the 2018 Department of Defense appropriations bill to repeal the 2001 AUMF passed with bipartisan support on June 29, 2017 but was stripped from the appropriations bill by Speaker Paul Ryan; and

WHEREAS, it is long past time for Congress to reclaim its constitutionally-designated authority by setting clear parameters around where and when our nation uses military force; and

WHEREAS, the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the House Liberty Caucus held an Ad-Hoc Hearing on the 2001 AUMF on February 27, 2018 that focused on the need to repeal the 2001 AUMF; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee strongly encourages Democratic lawmakers to join bipartisan efforts to assert Congress’ proper role and oversight responsibilities in determining when and where the United States uses military force by supporting efforts to repeal the 2001 AUMF and debate and vote on a new AUMF.

Yasmine Taeb

Legislative Representative for Human Rights and Civil Liberties

Yasmine directs FCNL’s work on a number of human rights and civil liberties issues, including lobbying for increased resettlement of Syrian refugees, more transparency and oversight of the U.S. lethal drones program, calling for the closure of Guantanamo, and for the repeal of the 2001 AUMF, among other issues.